Nine Wells students were announced as AP (Advanced Placement) award winners following the release of AP exams in early July. Incoming seniors Gautham Giri Naganathan and Daryl Ong received the highest recognition, being named AP Scholars with Distinction. To qualify for this award, a student needs to score an average of at least 3.50 in all AP exams taken, with five or more scores of at least a 3 (out of a possible 5). Gautham easily surpassed this requirement, scoring the maximum of 5 in English Language & Composition, Biology, Calculus A/B, and Macroeconomics, a score of 4 in Microeconomics, and a 3 in Psychology last year. Daryl received his highest score of 5 in English Language & Composition, World History, and Macroeconomics, with a 4 in Microeconomics and a 3 in Psychology.

Fellow incoming senior Cathy Shang Kuan, as well as recent graduate Chan Young Lee received the second highest award, as each were named as an AP Scholar with Honors. To qualify for this award, a student needs to score an average of at least 3.25 in all AP exams taken, with four exams receiving scores of at least a 3. Cathy received the highest score of 5 in Chemistry, Biology, and Calculus, while scoring a 4 in English Language & Composition, and Chan squeaked into this honor with a 3.25 average, making the grade in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Calculus A/B, and Chemistry.

Finally, five Wells students qualified for the honor of AP Scholar by scoring a minimum of 3 on three AP exams. Receiving this honor were recent graduate Joseph Chaomuangbon (Psychology – 5, Biology – 4, and Chemistry – 4) and incoming seniors Harjas Anandsongvit (English Composition – 4, Psychology – 5, Biology – 4), Judia Chen (Psychology – 4, Calculus AB – 3, Chemistry – 3), Archer Jirasirikul (Psychology – 5, Chemistry – 5, Biology – 4), and Mary Losmithgul (English Composition – 4, Psychology – 5, Calculus – 5).

College Board’s AP Program gives high school students the opportunity to study college-level courses while earning credit in most universities across the U.S. and over 60 countries around the world. Last year, żŰżŰ´«Ă˝ offered on-site AP courses in English, World History, Calculus, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, Microeconomics, and Macroeconomics. Collectively, Wells students scored far above the world averages in each of these courses.

Wells’ certified AP instructors most certainly played important roles in preparing these students for these rigorous exams, and they are to be congratulated for their hard work and dedication. These educators, in order of years of service at Wells, are Mr. Brian Salter-Townshend (Ireland – Biology), Mr. Daniel Betts (USA – Chemistry), Mr. Ashok Shanishetti (India – Calculus), Mr. Bob Dell (USA – Micro/Macroeconomics), Mr. Mark Jacobsen (USA – Psychology), and Mr. Adam Frick (USA – English & World History).

For more information about the Advanced Placement program and the opportunities it offers, visit our page.

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Growth – as much as we had valued the small, tight-knit learning community we had been for the first five years in operation, this year we needed to face the inevitable. It is this growth spurt, just as a teenager emerging out of adolescence, that most defines the 2011-2012 school year. This year’s graduating class will be able to look back at their senior year with pride. From Washington State to Boston U, from NYU to University of Nebraska, this class more than doubled the number of universities around the world on the list of schools accepting Wells graduates. More than any class before them, these seniors helped Wells to truly make the transition from an up-and-coming “small school” into an established and well-respected, mid-sized academic institution. With the memories of our first graduated class already tucked away in our school archives, this year proved to us that no matter how many classes walk through our halls, we will always strive to provide something as new, as memorable, and as special as the previous year, that will allow our current seniors to look back at and say, “Yes! That was my senior year – the BEST year Wells has ever had!”

The graduating class of 2011 will be able to look back at a year when their school truly began to assert itself as a force to contend with in virtually all aspects of academia. Though still a relatively small, tight-knit learning community, this year has been marked by several notable accomplishments that would typically be associated with the much larger institutions. Our students dominated over other international schools at the Asia Books Readers’ Theatre, TISAC “So You Think You Can Dance?” and TISAC “Battle of the Bands” competitions, capturing top prizes in both junior and senior divisions. In sports, our trophy case continues to fill with championships in basketball, badminton, and soccer, and even athletes from even the largest international schools in Bangkok have a growing respect for the Seahawk sports program. Most impressively, our students became the national champions at the most recent World Scholar’s Cup tournament in Thailand.

So, to our graduating seniors, I do hope that no matter where your future takes you, you will be able to look back fondly at your senior year in high school. You will most certainly be missed. On behalf of the entire Wells Leadership Team, our teachers, staff, and the underclassmen that look up to you, I wish you the best of luck for a life of success and happiness.

Aloha,

Mr. Ray

Congratulations to our departing seniors for their acceptances to the following universities (Wells students received scholarship offers to the italicized institutions):

• United States: Boston University, Columbia College, Dean College, Drexel University, Florida Institute of Technology, Goucher College, Idaho State University, Loyola Marymount University, Missouri State University, New York Institute of Technology, New York University, State University of New York, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, University of Pacific, Washington State University, Westminster College, Widener University
• Thailand: Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, Thammasat University, Webster University
• Australia: Deakin University, Monash University
• China: Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Sun Yat Sen University
• United Kingdom: London College of Fashion

Visit our to see photos of the departing 2012 seniors and the graduation ceremony.

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Diligently preparing for graduation and the selection of universities, students from grades 11 and 12 attended the Thai University Fair, hosted at Ruamrudee International School, on September  22nd. Accompanied by Mr. Dan, the Grade 12 homeroom instructor, and Ms. Nicki, the School Counselor, the students met with university representatives and participated in information sessions that allowed them to gain a better understanding of the possibilities of higher education.

The programs being promoted by the universities ensured that students were exposed to a wide variety of possible fields of study and eventual careers. Though many focused on technical areas such as chemistry, engineering and architecture, several other programs comprised an extensive range of the arts. Many such offerings extended from communication arts, language and culture and economics to fashion and design, hotel management and British and American studies.

Additionally, by interacting directly with the school representatives, students had the opportunity to learn about admission requirements, curricula, career planning, financial assistance, sports and activities, scholarships, work study programs, ESL programs and tuition costs.

Of the students who attended the fair, 55% are interested in attaining their undergraduate degrees in Thailand. Students wanting to study abroad were asked to collect data on possible majors in order help understand their needs and facilitate the process of individual vocational sessions. An awareness of the different programs and available educational opportunities will assist students in making important decisions for the future and the best possible choices for tertiary education.

Universities participating in the fair included the Chulalongkorn University International Program Thammasat University International Program, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Mahidol University International College, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Kasetsart University International Studies Center, Silapakorn University International Program, Srinakarinwirot University (offering a joint program with Nottingham University in the United Kingdom), Assumption University, Bangkok University International College, Rangsit University International Program, Dusit Thani College, Le Cordon Bleu Thailand, Webster University, Stamford International University, Academia Italiana and Raffles Institute.

(An additional thank you to Mr. Dan…)

By Ms. Nicki Sehgal

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Awareness…

Exploration…

Decision Making…

Preparation…

On September 17th Grade 10, 11 and selected 12 students received a visit from prestigious New York University. Mr. Steven Houghton, a NYU Abu Dhabi representative, inspired Wells students by providing information on one of the foremost private, global research institutions in the United States—one that has expanded its global network with a satellite campus in Abu Dhabi and through international academic centers.

The new NYU Abu Dhabi campus is a highly selective liberal arts and science college that provides semesters abroad at various locations in NYU’s global network, as well as generous financial aid packages for qualified students. Students enrolled in NYU are able to make progress toward gaining degrees on five continents—Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America—and in cities such as Accra, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Florence, London, Madrid and Paris.

The purpose of ongoing college visits is for high school students to begin thinking about their future interests and education, and also give them a taste of college life. Such visits provide an overview of the colleges, the admissions processes and career programs. Students are able to have discussions that answer their need to plan for their future education.

Post-secondary plans should be a joint decision between parents and students; our role as educators at Wells is to provide the best education possible to help students achieve these goals and to provide career data to allow for informed decisions that will best benefit the students.

“We should all be concerned about the future, because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there.”
Charles F. Kettering

by Ms. Nicki Sehgal, Guidance Counselor

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